--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In a racially imperialist nation such as…" description: "\"“In a racially imperialist nation such as ours, it is the dominant race that reserves for itself the luxury of dismissing racial identity while the opp..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d97/bell-hooks-464_racial-identity_in-a-racially-imperialist-nation-such-as_691174.jpg" --- # In a racially imperialist nation such as ours, it is the… ![“In a racially imperialist nation such as ours, it is the dominant race that reserves for itself the luxury of dismissing racial identity while the oppressed race is made daily aware of their racial identity. It is the dominant race that can make it seem that their experience is representative.” quote by bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d97/bell-hooks-464_racial-identity_in-a-racially-imperialist-nation-such-as_691174.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d97/bell-hooks-464_racial-identity_in-a-racially-imperialist-nation-such-as_691174.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d97/bell-hooks-464_racial-identity_in-a-racially-imperialist-nation-such-as_691174.jpg) > ““In a racially imperialist nation such as ours, it is the dominant race that reserves for itself the luxury of dismissing racial identity while the oppressed race is made daily aware of their racial identity. It is the dominant race that can make it seem that their experience is representative.”” [bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The dominant group can ignore its own race while forcing the oppressed to constantly confront theirs, making the dominant experience seem universal. **In simple terms:** Power hides its own identity while highlighting others'. Key Takeaway Recognize hidden dominance. Themes race power identity social justice Mood critical analytical Type sociopolitical educational When to use this quote - classroom discussions - policy analysis - media critique - community organizing Key Concepts privilege hegemony self-awareness Questions to Reflect On - How does this dynamic appear in your community? - What steps can disrupt the dominant narrative? A Different Perspective It may simplify complex interplays of multiple identities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Racial identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racial-identity/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) ## Related quotes > [A dominant race did not lie, because it had the whip.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-stead/a-dominant-race-did-not-lie-because-it-had-the-whip/) [Christina Stead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-stead/) > [Although skin color is undoubtedly the most salient signal of racial identity in America, other actual or imagined bodily features have also been seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-kennedy/although-skin-color-is-undoubtedly-the-most-salient-signal-of-racial/) [Randall Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-kennedy/) > [I look white to a lot of people. And I'm not. I'm African-American. I'm mixed. I like to call myself Mulatto because that definition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-johnson/i-look-white-to-a-lot-of-people-and-i-m-not-i-m-african-american-i-m/) [Mat Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-johnson/) > [I feel like because black Cuban artists don't have the kind of pressure to thematize race in the way that African-American artists do, there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-price/i-feel-like-because-black-cuban-artists-don-t-have-the-kind-of/) [Rachael Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-price/) > [“In the biological sense, race does not exist.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/in-the-biological-sense-race-does-not-exist/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [Racial identity is simply forbidden to whites in America and across the entire Western world. Black children today are hammered with the idea of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-steele/racial-identity-is-simply-forbidden-to-whites-in-america-and-across/) [Shelby Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-steele/) > [“An anti-racist person is on a life-long journey that includes forming new understanding of and ways to live her or his racial identity and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-derman-sparks/an-anti-racist-person-is-on-a-life-long-journey-that-includes-forming/) Louise Derman-Sparks > [Ironically enough, if the case involves race, and one claims that race is a disqualifying factor, nobody could hear the case. Everybody comes to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-rhode/ironically-enough-if-the-case-involves-race-and-one-claims-that-race/) [Deborah Rhode](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-rhode/) > [“Somehow Malaysia must find a way to create racially neutral space in the public sphere. This is not an easy task as most of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/somehow-malaysia-must-find-a-way-to-create-racially-neutral-space-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Perception, after all, is not simply a matter of what you believe about yourself, it all encompasses what others think about you, and what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/perception-after-all-is-not-simply-a-matter-of-what-you-believe-about/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [You have to find a way - and thankfully for me, it's been music - to separate yourself from the racial identity. It's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/utkarsh-ambudkar/you-have-to-find-a-way-and-thankfully-for-me-it-s-been-music-to/) [Utkarsh Ambudkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/utkarsh-ambudkar/) > [It's hard enough to be a middle-school kid, because you're dealing with so many facets of your identity - you're changing socially, you're changing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/it-s-hard-enough-to-be-a-middle-school-kid-because-you-re-dealing/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [Hardly any aspect of my life, from where I had lived to my education to my employment history to my friendships, had been free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/hardly-any-aspect-of-my-life-from-where-i-had-lived-to-my-education/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [Racial identity is chosen and given. It is as much a product of the world's perception of you as it is of your own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritchie-torres/racial-identity-is-chosen-and-given-it-is-as-much-a-product-of-the/) [Ritchie Torres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritchie-torres/) > [By dismantling the narrow politics of racial identity and selective self-interest, by going beyond 'black' and 'white,' we may construct new values, new institutions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manning-marable/by-dismantling-the-narrow-politics-of-racial-identity-and-selective/) [Manning Marable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manning-marable/) ## More by bell hooks > [Right now, for many Americans, class is being foregrounded like never before because of the economic situation. It doesn't mean that race doesn't matter,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/right-now-for-many-americans-class-is-being-foregrounded-like-never/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [“Most folks believe we are hardwired biologically to long for sex but they do not believe we are hardwired to long for love. Almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/most-folks-believe-we-are-hardwired-biologically-to-long-for-sex-but/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [... we need to interrogate "reverence," for idolization can be another way one is objectified and not really taken seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/we-need-to-interrogate-reverence-for-idolization-can-be-another-way/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [Couples who rarely or never have sex can know lifelong love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/couples-who-rarely-or-never-have-sex-can-know-lifelong-love/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [The power of patriarchy has been to make maleness feared and to make men feel that it is better to be feared that to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/the-power-of-patriarchy-has-been-to-make-maleness-feared-and-to-make/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [“I feel enormously blessed to be a successful black woman writer in this culture, but I have found my small fame, such as it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/i-feel-enormously-blessed-to-be-a-successful-black-woman-writer-in/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [Language is also a place of struggle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/language-is-also-a-place-of-struggle/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [In this culture, the phrase 'black woman' is not synonymous with 'tender,' or 'gentle.' It's as if those words couldn't possibly speak to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/in-this-culture-the-phrase-black-woman-is-not-synonymous-with-tender/) [bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [It's interesting to look at all the aspects where everyday Americans, many of whom are not college educated, are thinking deeply now about our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/it-s-interesting-to-look-at-all-the-aspects-where-everyday-americans/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [The true teacher is within us. A good teacher is someone who can help you to go back and touch the true teacher within,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/the-true-teacher-is-within-us-a-good-teacher-is-someone-who-can-help/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [“Advancing the notion that there can be many "feminisms" has served the conservative and liberal political interests of women seeking status and privileged class…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/advancing-the-notion-that-there-can-be-many-feminisms-has-served-the/) [bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [I love my family, even as I critique their dysfunctionalities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/i-love-my-family-even-as-i-critique-their-dysfunctionalities/) [bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [You must have courage to love, you have to have a profound will to do what is right to love, and it does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/you-must-have-courage-to-love-you-have-to-have-a-profound-will-to-do/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [To truly love we must learn to mix various ingredients - care, affection, recognition, respect, commitment, and trust, as well as honest and open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/to-truly-love-we-must-learn-to-mix-various-ingredients-care-affection/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [“Often emphasis on identity and lifestyle is appealing because it creates a false sense that one is engaged in praxis. However, praxis within any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/often-emphasis-on-identity-and-lifestyle-is-appealing-because-it/) [bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) [Explore all 541 bell hooks quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) ## More Racial identity quotes > [Although skin color is undoubtedly the most salient signal of racial identity in America, other actual or imagined bodily features have also been seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-kennedy/although-skin-color-is-undoubtedly-the-most-salient-signal-of-racial/) [Randall Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-kennedy/) > [Racial identity is chosen and given. It is as much a product of the world's perception of you as it is of your own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritchie-torres/racial-identity-is-chosen-and-given-it-is-as-much-a-product-of-the/) [Ritchie Torres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritchie-torres/) > [Hardly any aspect of my life, from where I had lived to my education to my employment history to my friendships, had been free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/hardly-any-aspect-of-my-life-from-where-i-had-lived-to-my-education/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [It's hard enough to be a middle-school kid, because you're dealing with so many facets of your identity - you're changing socially, you're changing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/it-s-hard-enough-to-be-a-middle-school-kid-because-you-re-dealing/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [You have to find a way - and thankfully for me, it's been music - to separate yourself from the racial identity. It's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/utkarsh-ambudkar/you-have-to-find-a-way-and-thankfully-for-me-it-s-been-music-to/) [Utkarsh Ambudkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/utkarsh-ambudkar/) > [Perception, after all, is not simply a matter of what you believe about yourself, it all encompasses what others think about you, and what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/perception-after-all-is-not-simply-a-matter-of-what-you-believe-about/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [“Somehow Malaysia must find a way to create racially neutral space in the public sphere. This is not an easy task as most of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/somehow-malaysia-must-find-a-way-to-create-racially-neutral-space-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Ironically enough, if the case involves race, and one claims that race is a disqualifying factor, nobody could hear the case. Everybody comes to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-rhode/ironically-enough-if-the-case-involves-race-and-one-claims-that-race/) [Deborah Rhode](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-rhode/) > [“An anti-racist person is on a life-long journey that includes forming new understanding of and ways to live her or his racial identity and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-derman-sparks/an-anti-racist-person-is-on-a-life-long-journey-that-includes-forming/) Louise Derman-Sparks > [Racial identity is simply forbidden to whites in America and across the entire Western world. Black children today are hammered with the idea of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-steele/racial-identity-is-simply-forbidden-to-whites-in-america-and-across/) [Shelby Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-steele/) > [“In the biological sense, race does not exist.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/in-the-biological-sense-race-does-not-exist/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [I feel like because black Cuban artists don't have the kind of pressure to thematize race in the way that African-American artists do, there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-price/i-feel-like-because-black-cuban-artists-don-t-have-the-kind-of/) [Rachael Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-price/) > [I look white to a lot of people. And I'm not. I'm African-American. I'm mixed. I like to call myself Mulatto because that definition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-johnson/i-look-white-to-a-lot-of-people-and-i-m-not-i-m-african-american-i-m/) [Mat Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-johnson/) > [By dismantling the narrow politics of racial identity and selective self-interest, by going beyond 'black' and 'white,' we may construct new values, new institutions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manning-marable/by-dismantling-the-narrow-politics-of-racial-identity-and-selective/) [Manning Marable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manning-marable/) > [“Sentiments that glorify humanity know no racial distinction.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/sentiments-that-glorify-humanity-know-no-racial-distinction/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) [Browse all 29 Racial identity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racial-identity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“In a racially imperialist nation such as ours, it is the dominant race that reserves for itself the luxury of dismissing racial identity while the oppressed race is made daily aware of their racial identity. 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